Hypodermic syringes



y 1, 1963 E. R. BROOKS 3,090,383

HYPODERMIC SYRINGES Filed March 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY E. R. 5/?00/(5 M, &

ATTORNEYS May 21, 1963 E. R. BROOKS 3,090,383

HYPODERMIC SYRINGES Filed March 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Br E. R. BH UU/(S ATTORNEYS m,m&m

3,090,383 HYPODERMIC SYRINGES Egan R. Brooks, Greyholme, 191 Dialstone Lane, Stockport, England Filed Mar. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 800,528 Claims priority, application Great Britain Mar. 24, 1958 17 Claims. (Cl. 128-216) invention relates to hypodermic syringes.

A hypodermic syringe consists basically of a container from which injectable contents may be expelled or into which a body fluid may be extracted. Usually such container consists of a cylinder and piston which can be sterilised, and has a tapered needle-holding end adapted to receive a detachable needle, the angle of taper being such that a secure and fluid tight pushfit is obtainable, only the needle being treated as expendable, the needleholding end being fused or otherwise permanently secured and sealed to the container.

The object of the present invention is an improved construction of hypodermic syringe suitable for the giving of hypodermic injections or for the extraction of samples of blood or other fluid from the body, bearing in mind essential conditions, apart from the mere act of insertion of the needle, such as checking that the needle has been correctly inserted; that hygienic conditions have obtained; that the contents and volume are clearly identifiable and visible before and during the injection and to facilitate generally the manipulation of the syringe during injection whilst avoiding premature injection during manipulation.

According to the present invention, a needle-holding end for a hypodermic syringe comprises an outer conical part adapted to be permanently fixed in the end of a hypodermic syringe and an inner complementary conical part having an extension at its smaller end which extends through the smaller end of the outer part and is adapted to receive and hold a needle.

According .to further features of the invention, the hypodermic springe aforesaid may be further characten'sed:

(a) By sealing means in series with the said complementary conical parts and so constructed as to be adapted to be unsealed or ruptured immediately prior to use of the syringe;

(b) By a construction of container which is disposable and intended for use once only, and preferably of a flexible and collapsible construction;

!(c) By a needle permanently attached to the needleholding means so as to be disposable with the container;

(a') By a disposable container having a space thereon adapted to carry a predetermined code identification for its contents by name, volume and content and preferably with a space which is transparent through which the contents may be seen for a visual check.

The expression hypodermic syringe is used herein to define a means for the injection or extraction of a fluid, primarily into animal tissue by means of a container and a needle, whether such container is a syringe proper, i.e. consisting of a cylinder and complementary piston, or merely a collapsible container and thereby suitably constructed for expulsion and/ or induction of liquids as required.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an external side elevation of one example of a needle-holder for a hypodermic syringe made in accordance with the present invention adapted to be permanently fitted to the lower end of a container as shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the needle-holder shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan and edge view of a circlip used in the needle-holder assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 and show a modified construction.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a further modified example of needle-holder made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional side elevation of one example of a container made in accordance with the present invention and fitted with the needle-holder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9 is a key for operating the valve of the needleholder.

FIG. 10 shows another example of container fitted with the needle holder shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show another construct-ion of hypodermic syringe made in accordance with the present invention and fitted with a needle-holder as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show yet another construction of hypodermic syringe according to the invention fitted with a needle-holder as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 16 is a detail view of a part of the hypodermic syringe shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of still another example of hypodermic syringe fitted with a needle-holder as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a 2-part hypodermic syringe made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section of part of the hypodermic syringe shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 shows a modified construction of a 2-part hypodermic syringe made in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary section of part of the syringe shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 2-2 is a sectional view of a ball valve assembly for use with some of the examples of hypodermic syringe shown in the earlier figures of the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the lower end of a collapsible type hypodermic syringe, shown in dotted lines and similar to that shown in FIG. 8, has embedded and sealed therein a needle-holder consisting of a hollow conical outer body part 31 having upper and lower annular bead-like flanges 32 and 33 at its ends, the lower flange 33 being knurled or roughened. Within the outer body part is a solid cone 34-, the lower end of which is extended in cylindrical shape and is grooved to receive a spring securing ring or snap-ring 35 and formed with flats 34a to receive a key or spanner such as shown in FIG. 9 and described later. The cone 34 is bored to form a fluid passage, part of which at 34b is adjacent and parallel to the side of the cone and the end of which is parallel to the axis of the cone, in which end is fixed a needle 36. The spring clip and groove therefor are so constructed and arranged that the spring exerts an axial pull on the cone to hold it in sealing contact with the conical bore of the outer part, as in a conical valve. Over the larger end of the assembly is permanently fastened a cover 37, the edges of which are turned down over the beaded rim 32 and sealed against the same, for example, by soldering or by means of a sealing ring 38 of rubber or other suitable material. When so fixed, the cover 37 becomes a part of the body part 31 to operate as a valve relative to the passage 34b, the cover being provided with a port or hole 3? which is complementary to the adjacent end of the said passage. The container of the syringe preferably includes a web with an 0 aperture complementary to the hole 39 aforesaid in the cover. A displaceable plug 4-1 may be fitted to close the hole in the cover, or a membrane of suit-able material may be fitted between the web and the cover, or as a part of such web, which can be pierced before use. When moulded into the body of the syringe, the knurling of the flange 33prevents rotation of the body part 31 therein. Instead of the needle being permanentlyfixed as above described, the extension may be provided with a projection of the standard shape to receive a detachable needle.

The spring ring 35 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a small tongue 35:: adapted to fit a complementary recess or hole at the bottom of the ring groove so that the ring turns with the cone 34 and such ring also has a small projection 35]) on one face adapted to engage recesses formed in the adjacent end of the flange 33 to act as a detent so as to indicate the open and closed positions of the passage 34b relative to the hole 39 in the cover.

In use, the hypodermic syringe, which may be prefilled, is adapted to be manipulated in normal manner except that before it can be used, the cone 34 has to be turned into the open position and then a fine sterile probe inserted up the needle to dislodge the plug 41 or to pierce the sealing membrane, if present. After the usual preliminary manipulation to fill the needle, the cone 34 may again be turned like a valve to the closed position whilst inserting the needle into the tissue, and in this way, premature injection may be avoided. When the insertion of the needle has been effected, the cone is again turned to the open position and, thereafter, the insertion checked as usual to see, for instance, that a blood vessel has or has not been entered, before the injection is 'efiected. Such injection is'easily effected if the body of the syringe is of a collapsible plastic material such as illustrated and described later with reference to FIGS. 8 or 10. For the extraction of fluids from the body, normal manipulation will be used, modified by suitable manipulation of the valve.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the needle-holder is of substantially the same construction as that of FIGS. 1 and 2 as regards the outer hollow conical body part 42 and inner cone 43, but the passage '44 is inclined so as to terminate in the conical wall thereof complementary to a port 45 formed in the wall of the body part. Also, the needle 46 is fitted in the side of the extension of the cone 43. The end of the syringe (not shown) which is moulded over the holder will be suitably constructed to provide communication bet-ween the interior of the syringe and such port 45.

Obviously such modifications do not materially atfect the manipulation and use of the syringe compared with the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2. The position of the needle, however, facilitates intravenous work.

As shown in FIG. 7, the further modified construction of needle-holder is similar to that of FIGS. 5 and 6 except that the cone 47 is hollow and the passage therein is in the form of an upstanding tube 48 having a filter 49 at its upper end. A housing 50 is formed in the Wall of the body part 51 for a ball valve unit described later with reference to FIG. 22, complementary ports being provided in the said housing and conical wall of the cone 47 to act as a rotary valve. The needle-holder will be moulded into the end of the syringe body (not shown) so that the interior thereof is in communication with the entry for the ball valve unit.

Obviously such modification of construction does not materially affect manipulation of the syringe. :The main purpose of the modification is to deal with sediments and stop them fromentering the needle.

As shown in FIG. 10, the body of the syringe may be a collapsible container 52 of generally rectangular shape, in the bottom of which is fixed a needle-holder such as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 or 7, the needle 53 of which is adapted to lie along the underside of the container when in the closed position for its protection and so that it may be covered by a membrane '54 adapted to be tom away to enable the needle to be turned to the full-line position ready for use.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the body of the syringe may consist of a rigid cylinder 55 with a cupshaped piston 56 of flexible material located against extraction by a snap-ring 57. The syringe is shown fitted with a needle-holder and needle as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and has a dismountable piston rod 58, one end of which has a head 59 complementary to a slot 56a in the outer end of the piston. At the other end of the piston rod is a thumb rest 60 suitably ribbed to prevent slip. The piston and cylinder are circular in cross section.

As shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, the cylinder 61 and piston 62 of the syringe are of rectangular cross section and the piston is retained by a spring ring 63 of similar rectangular shape. The piston is slotted at 64 to receive the head 59 of the piston rod shown in FIG. 13. The needle, which may be as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is centrally fitted in the end of the cylinder.

As shown in FIG. 17, the cylinder 65 has a moulded piston 66 reinforced by a disc member 67, the end of the cylinder being closed by a screw plug 68 which is threaded axially to receive a d-ismountable screw plunger 69. At the other end of the cylinder is a needle-holder and needle such as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, or 7. This construction is obviously suitable for use with oily suspensions or other suspensions requiring higher pressure for their expulsion.

The manipulation of this construction only differs from that of FIGS. 11 and 12 or FIGS. 15 and 16 in that the piston is advanced by the screwed plunger instead of by pushing on a piston rod.

Each of the aforesaid examples of syringe or container is adapted to be supplied pro-filled and with the operating rod or screw plunger dismounted to prevent accidental discharge of the contents.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the syringe is particulaarly adapted for use with two ingredients which have to be brought together only immediately prior to use of the syringe. For this purpose there is a collapsible container 70 adapted to hold a liquid such as distilled water and a second collapsible container 71 adapted to hold a powder such as penicillin powder. The two containers are inseparably joined, one on top of the other by a rotary valve 72 constructed as shown in FIG. 19 and described below, similar to the needle-holder of FIGS. 1 and 2. Identification marks 73, '74 are provided so that it can be seen whether the valve is open or closed. The lower container 71 is fitted with a needle-holder and needle as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 or 7.

The joining valve 72, shown in FIG. 19, has an outer body part 75, an inner cone 76 and a cover 77, all moulded into a conical boss 78 on the underside of the upper container. The lower container has a complementary recess 79 formed in its upper wall and the lower end of the inner cone 76, suitably modified in shape, is fused thereto, thus uniting the two containers rotatably but inseparably. The cone 76 has an inclined passage 81 which is complementary to ports at each end, so that it can operate as a valve with the body 75, the cone 76 being rotatable wth the lower container.

The manipulation of the double container syringe is so obvious as to require only a brief explanation. The upper container is first turned to eject the liquid into the lower container and then turned back to close the valve. Thereafter, the device may be used to inject the contents of the lower container in the same way as one would manipulate the syringe of FIG. 10.

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 differs only from that shown in FIG. 18 and 19 by the end-toeud arrangement of the two collapsible containers 82, 83 and the connecting piece shown in FIG. 21 which includes a ball valve unit 84 and in which the end of the valve cone 85 is screw-threaded for attachment to the second container just prior to use. A tablet 86 is shown in the second container.

Wherever possible, the body or container of the syringe will be made of a transparent or semi-transparent and non-coloured material or will have a panel of that nature through which the contents will be visible so that its colour can be seen for identification and so that the volume is also visible. Such material will also be selected so that it is inert to the contents. Also, the body or container will be clearly and permanently labelled to show its contents by name, quantity, i.e. dose per unit volume or total volume and content. It may also be further identified by the use of a colour or touch code, and where intended for self-use by a blind person, it will also be marked in Braille using a code of abbreviation. Such body or container will be rigid or flexible as may be most suitable according, for example to whether or not it will have a piston, whilst the piston itself may be a moulding of flexible material, shaped like a hat-leather packing for self-sealing action against the internal wall of the cylinder by the action of internally generated pressure against its rim.

The ball valve unit shown in FIG. 22 consists of a screwed outer ibody 84a with a push-in plug 87 to retain a ball 88 and loading spring 89. Obviously, such unit can be fitted with either end first, according to the desired direction of flow.

The invention is obviously not limited to all the details above described which are only given by way of example. The said examples may be modified in detail without departing from the scope of the invention and parts of the several examples may be substituted for parts of other examples without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. A needle-holding end for a hypodermic syringe com prising inner and outer relatively rotatable parts of frusto-conical shape, a cover over the larger end of the outer part sealed thereto, an extension of the smaller end of the inner part projecting through the smaller end of the outer part, said inner part having a through passage mainly parallel to and close to its conical periphery and said cover having a hole complementary to the inner end of said passage to co-operate therewith as a valve, the extension of the smaller end of the inner part being adapted to hold a needle so that it is in communication with said passage.

2. A needle-holding end according to claim 1 a displaceable sealing plug located in said hole so as to be displaced by means of a probe inserted through the passage from the needle-end thereof.

3. A needle-holding end according to claim 11 characterised by a snap-ring located in a groove in the said extension, the snap-ring being so constructed as to urge the complementary conical surfaces of the two parts together said snap-ring having a radial projection to locate it fromrotation on said extension and also having an axial projection adapted to cooperate with the outer part to form a detent for indicating the open and closed positions of the valve.

4. A needle-holding end for a hypodermic syringe comprising inner and outer relatively rotatable parts of frustoconical shape, an extension of the smaller end of the inner part projecting through the smaller end of the outer part, said inner part having a through passage inclined from the base through the axis of the inner part to its conical periphery, said outer part having a complementary port, the said extension being adapted to hold a needle so that it is in communication with the said passage.

5. In combination with a hypodermic syringe having an expansible and contractable chamber and a fluid port extending from said chamber, a needle-holding end including a generally conical and hollow part fixed to said syringe, an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis, said inner conical part having an extension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow part, a hollow needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a fluid passage which is in communication with said needle, said passage having an inner end which is offset from said axis, said ofiset inner end of the passage being alined with said port when said inner part is rotated to a predetermined position.

6. In combination with a hypodermic syringe having an expansible and contractable chamber and a fluid port extending from said chamber, a needle-holding end including a generally conical and hollow part fixed to said syringe, an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis, said inner conical part having an [extension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow part, means fixed on said extension for rotation therewith and adapted to hold said inner conical part in sealing engagement with said hollow part, a hollow needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a fluid passage which is in communication with said needle, said passage having an inner end which is offset from said axis, said ofiset inner end of the passage being alined with said port when said inner part is rotated to a predetermined position.

7. In combination with a hypodermic syringe having an expansible and contractable chamber and a fluid port extending from said chamber, a needle-holding end including a generally conical and hollow part fixed to said syringe, an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rota-table therein about an axis, said inner conical part having an extension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow part, means on said extension for rotating said inner conical part, a hollow needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a fluid passage which is in communication with said needle, said passage having an inner end which is offset from said axis, said offset inner end of the passage being alined with said port when said inner part'is rotated to a predetermined position.

8. In combination with a hypodermic syringe having an expansible and contractable chamber, a needle-holding end including a generally conical and hollow part fixed to said syringe, an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis, said inner conical part having an extension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow part, a cover sealingly mounted across the larger end of said hollow part and having a hole therein, a hollow needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part de fining a fluid passage which is in communication with said needle, said passage having an inner end which is oifset firom said axis, whereby when said inner part is rotated to a predetermined position, said passage inner end and said hole are in alinement.

9. A device as defined in claim 8 further characterized in that said chamber has removable plug means in said hole and which is displaceable into said chamber.

10. A needle-holding end for a hypodermic syringe comprising a generally conical and hollow part adapted to be fixed on the end of said hypodermic syringe, said hollow part having a port which is communicable with said syringe, and an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis, said inner part having an extension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow conical part, and a needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a fluid passage in communication with said needle, said passage having one end in ofi'set relationship to said axis and align-able with said port to thereby function as a valve.

11. A needle-holding end for a hypodermic syringe comprising a generally conical and hollow part adapted to be fixed on the end of said hypodermic syringe, and an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part across the larger'end of'said hollow conical part, a port extending outwardly from the inside of'said hollow part,

said inner part having an extension at its smaller end extending firom the smaller end of said hollow conical part, a needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a .fluid passage in communication with said needle, said passage having one end in offset relation to said axis and alineable with said porttwhen said inner conical part is rotated to a predetermined position.

12. A needle-holding end for a' hypodermic syringe comprising a geneually conical and hollow part adapted to be fixed on the end of said hypodermic syringe, said part having a port communicable with said syringe and an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis, said inner part having an extension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow conical part, means fixed on said extension for rotation therewith and adapted to hold said inner conical part in sealing engagement with said hollow part, and a hollow needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a fluid passage in' communication with said needle, said passage having one end in oflset relationship to said axis and communcable with said port.

13. A needle-holding end 'for a hypodermic syringe comprising a generally conical and hollow part adapted to be fixed on the end of said hypodermic syringe and having a port communicable therewith, and an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis, said inner part having an extension .at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow conical part, means on said extension for rotating said inner conical part in respect to said hollow .conical part, and a needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a fluid passage in communication with said needle, said passage having one end in oitset relationship to said axis and communicable l with said port.

14. A needle-holding end for a hypodermic syringe comprising a generally conical and hollow part adapted to be fixed on the end of said hypodermic syringe, and an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis, a cover mounted across the larger end of said hollow conical part and having a hole therein, said inner part having an extension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow conical part, and a hollow needle mounted on said extension, .said inner conical part defining a fluid passage in communication with said needle, said passage having one end in ofiset relationship to said axis and alinea'ble with said hole when said inner conical part is rotated to a predetermined position.

15. In combination with a collapsible type hypodermic syringe having an expansible and contractable chamber and a-fluid port extending from said chamber, a needleholding end including a generally conical and hollow part fixed to said syringe, an inner conical part complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis,

'said inner conical part having anextension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow part, a hollow needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a fluid passage which is in communication with said needle, said passage having an inner end which is offset from said axis, said offset inner end of the passage being alined with said port when said inner part is rotated to a predetermined position, a filling entry in said syringe, and a valve in said entry whereby said filling can be controlled.

16. In combination with a two-container hypodermic syringe, both containers of which are collapsible, one container adapted to hold a liquid solvent and the other adapted to hold a soluble material, one container having a fluid port extending therefrom, a needle-holding end includinga generally conical and hollow part fixed to said one container, an inner conicalpart complementary to said hollow part and rotatable therein about an axis, said inner conical part having an extension at its smaller end extending from the smaller end of said hollow part, a hollow needle mounted on said extension, said inner conical part defining a fluid passage which is in communication with said needle, said passage having an inner end which is offset from said axis, said ofiset inner end of the passage being alined with said port when-said inner part is rotated to a predetermined position, said one container also having a valve controlled filling-entry, and means for connecting said other container to said filling-entry.

17. A needle-holding end for a hypodermic syringe comprising an outer conical part adapted to be permanently fixed on the end of a hypodermic syringe and an inner complementary conical part, said needle-holding end having .a port for communication with said syringe, said inner conical part rotatable about an axis within said outer conical part and having an extension at its smaller end which extends through the smaller end of the outer conical part, said extension being adapted to receive and hold a needle, said inner conical part having a passage in communication at one end with said needle and the other end of said passage being offset from said axis and alignable with said port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,139,975 Hopper May 18, 1915 1,179,560 Reed Apr. 18, 1916 1,831,668 Juhl Nov. 10, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 950,587 France Mar. 28, 1949 532,192 Germany Aug. 25, 1931 103,045 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1924 117,209 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1927 

1. A NEEDLE-HOLDING END FOR A HYPODERMIC SYRINGE COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER RELATIVELY ROTATABLE PARTS OF FRUSTO-CONICAL SHAPE, A COVER OVER THE LARGER END OF THE OUTER PART SEALED THERETO, AN EXTENSION OF THE SMALLER END OF THE INNER PART PROJECTING THROUGH THE SMALLER END OF THE OUTER PART, SAID INNER PART HAVING A THROUGH PASSAGE MAINLY PARALLEL TO AND CLOSE TO ITS CONICAL PERIPHERY AND SAID COVER HAVING A HOLE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE INNER END OF SAID PASSAGE TO CO-OPERATE THEREWITH AS A VALVE, THE EXTENSION OF THE SMALLER END OF THE INNER PART BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD A NEEDLE SO THAT IT IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PASSAGE. 